title: Catalytic oxidative cleavage of catechol by a non-heme iron(III) complex as a green route to dimethyl adipate.
abstract: The catalyst system prepared in situ from iron(III) salts, tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine and a base readily catalyses the intradiol dioxygenation of pyrocatechol in methanol, to primarily afford the half-methyl ester of muconic acid. Dimethyl adipate is obtained by the subsequent, one-step catalytic hydrogenation/esterification, thus providing a green route to this important nylon precursor.
authors.affiliation: Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jastrzebski
authors.forename: Bert M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Weckhuysen
authors.forename: Pieter C A
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Bruijnincx
mesh_terms: D000272:Adipates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D002396:Catechols / Q000737:chemistry*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013011:Sorbic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000272:Adipates; D002396:Catechols; D005290:Ferric Compounds; C005939:muconic acid; C067354:dimethyladipate; C034221:catechol; D013011:Sorbic Acid